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Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1731, 23 April 1913, Page 9

! Men as Well as Money. > What they wanted to do was to establish i permanent naval policy, and it could •not bo said that 6. permanent naval'policy '.existed either ill New Zealand or in Canada'under the contributory system. He valued to tho fullest extent the'steps ihat had been taken by New Zealand rind Canada, but after all they were only first steps, and they must be followed by the adoption by themselves and for themselves of'a permanent policy which: would endure. (Bear, hear.) What they wanted was the living 'thing, in which the Dominions would havo a vital interest. It did not matter so much for the moment where tho "Dreadnoughts" were built; that Vas a matter that could be arranged as conditions developed in the future; but ivhat' did matter was that .it should he realised that the Dominions would not be content with merc'ly putting their hands in their poekcts. (Jfear, hear.) Tho Imperial Navy must, ho a living reality to. them, to which they contributed not merely money but men. .(Hear, hear.) There was more value in the lives of their men than in the life of a ship. (Cheers.) The Dominions must have t.lie opportunity'of .doing their duty towards the personnel of tho Fleet and the manning of the Empire'* ships at sea. They must, be prepared not only to help the Imperial Fleet with material, but they must have an interest in the operations of the Fleet itself. It had been said that tho Dominion Fleets would be drawing' on the British Fleet for the higher ratings lo a greater extent than Ihe British Fleet could afford, but it was not the fault of tho Dominions that they were.not yetin the position of supplying the higher.' ratings. They had not been given tho chance' of trailing them. But he was hopeful that these difficulties would not be found insuperable, since his visit to England had convinced him that the public men of this country were in sympathy; with . tho public men of the Dominions and wanted to work with them. (Cheers.) .. .. When None are for Part",

Mr. A listen Chamberlain projin-erl the health of the High Commissioner, for Now Zealand. It wits a irratifying fact, rcw«liised by men of nil jiolitical creeds, lie said, that in mcetiriK our kinsmen fj' olll overseas we teased .to know party difference:-. (Hear, hear.) Wo welcomed them without reference to party considerations at'all. Colonel Allen had spoken Willi enthusiasm of the progress already made towards defencc co-operation. 'Int'.Y lmd taken the lirst steps on Hie palli they hoped to.trend. (Hear, hear.) When the Dominions were willim; lo Jiiln: the responsibilities which n share in our Councils.carried .willi it they would find I.nnlishmen of all parties willing to agree to that. (Cheers.) Mr. Mackenzie had Vv ai for many years a member of the

Dominion Parliament of New Zealand, ho 1 had been a Dominion Minister in association with Sir Joseph Ward when the offer of a Dreadnought was made to tlio Mother Country, ho had been Prime Minister of tho Dominion, and now New Zealand had sent him to this country to be the Do-): minion's official representative here. (Cheers.) Mr. Mackenzie, in acknowledging tlio toast, said that although the problems of defence might not yet be settled, there was no Want of unity on the part of tho Overseas Dominions in standing solid for the Mother Country. (Hear hear.) There had been somo criticism in some (inarters in reference to the immigration policy of the Dominions under which what was called the "bone and sinew" of this country was drawn av.ay in tho Dominions. Well, perhaps that was not altogether without its compensations, for many of these people became exceedingly prosperous, and some of them were attracted back here to j spend their wealth. (Laughter and cheers.) Mr. Cnthcart Wason, M.P., proposed the health of the chairman.

Colonel Seely, in replying, said that there had been some reference lo Imperial co-operation, and in this connection it was interesting to remember that o|ie of their speakers that day (Mr. Austen Chamberlain) was the son,of the man who had dono more than any other had ever done, or ever would do, to secure co-operation between tho Mother Country and the Dominions in Imperial affairs. (Cheers.) Ho rejoiced that Mr. Austen Chamberlain's distinguished father was still a member of the House uf Commons and was the witness of those developments in tho cause which ho had so much at heart. (Cheers.)